From Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-beyer/maryland-gender-identity-anti-discrimination-act_b_2783088.html
Dana Beyer
03/01/2013
This week the effort to make Maryland the 17th state to provide comprehensive gender identity protections in employment, housing and public accommodations made its first public legislative appearance in Annapolis. Testimony in support of S.B. 449 was heard from over 40 proponents and about a dozen opponents in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, chaired by Sens. Brian Frosh and Lisa Gladden. The proponents’ testimony was well-received, as reported in our local news outlets, and I left with the feeling that the legislators realized that the time had come to finish this civil rights job. After six previous attempts and the passage of city and county laws covering 47 percent of the state’s population, it is time to cover the entire state and stake out Maryland’s position as a civil rights leader. As one proponent said, “It’s 2013. Really.”
We are fortunate to be led in the Senate by passionate allies, Sens. Raskin and Madaleno, who spoke first and fielded some questions from the panel. Then came my turn:
Mr. Chairman, Madame Vice Chair and honorable committee members:
I’m Dr. Dana Beyer, Executive Director of Gender Rights Maryland, asking you to vote for S.B. 449, the Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2013. It’s a privilege to speak with you this afternoon, as it has been for many years now. But this year is different.
This year we are led by Gov. O’Malley, who signed the first such anti-discrimination bill in Maryland. We have the support of senior legislative leadership. We will present testimony from the lead sponsors of the three counties which have passed similar laws, the benefits accrued and the complete lack of untoward consequences that had been feared by some.
But this year is different because last year was historic. In December of 2011, President Obama proclaimed, and Secretary Clinton echoed, “The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States commitment to promoting human rights.” That same month the 11th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, which covers Florida, Georgia and Alabama, next door to a state which, just last week, ratified the 13th Amendment, ruled that transgender persons are a protected class under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. And Howard County passed its gender identity law.
Continue reading at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-beyer/maryland-gender-identity-anti-discrimination-act_b_2783088.html
